Ignition Coil failure intermittent?

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

The bike was dying and back firing, then it wouldn't start at all.
Drained fuel and re-filled, No start
Checked wires and grounds, No start

This morning, I took out the front sparkplug, turned it over and it sparked. Put the plug back in and it ran (with jumpercables attached...) for about a minute. I took the jumpercables off and it died a few seconds later and wouldnt re-start.

Pulled the front plug back out, turned it over and no spark.

Can Coil faliures be intermittent?

Could this be the voltage regulator?

The battery is fine, I did a load check...

I cant download the pdf service manual from gigabone for some reason.....
I need the coil testing proceedures, I just bought a manual from ebay, but that will take a week or two to get here.

I was talking with Steven150 on another thread, but I dont know if my problem is the same and I dont want to threadjack...

Any help is much appreciated!

PS... Bike is an '06 xb12ss

 

[anrkizm95]

have you pulled codes yet? heres a link
http://www.bcrider.com/DDFI.html

DDFI Trouble Codes

Code No. Fault Condition
11 Throttle position sensor
13 Oxygen sensor
14 Engine temperature sensor
15 Intake air temperature sensor
16 Battery voltage
21 inter active muffler control
23 Front fuel injector
24 Front ignition coil
25 Rear ignition coil
26,27 clutch and neutral switch
32 Rear fuel injector
33 Fuel pump
34 iac
35 Tachometer
36 fan voltage
37,43 speed sensor
44 Bank angle sensor
45 side stand sensor
46 start relay
47 aux power outlets
52, 53, 54, 55 ECM failure
56 Cam sync failure

this is from an 08 with a crank sensor yours has a cam sensor i believe the resistance specs are the same though.hope this helps

 

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

nice! Thanks for the reply, but there is no CEL and no codes... I should have mentioned that...

 

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

HMMM but what you are saying is that there should be a code if the coil is malfunctioning...??

And thanks for posting pics of the manual! It gives me something to try at least...

 

[anrkizm95]

but what you are saying is that there should be a code if the coil is malfunctioning...??

most of the time yes

 

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

hmmmmmm.... must be a ground that i missed somewhere then.

 

[anrkizm95]

no spark on one cylinder only is usally plug,coil wire,coil,connection or ecm telling that cyl to drop spark due to over heat condition or over rev.cam sensor should drop spark to both if bad the bank angle sensor only cuts fuel.

 

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

heat condition? Engine Temp. Sensor?

 

[anrkizm95]

Engine Temp. Sensor?

yea

 

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

UPDATE

I replaced the Engine Temp. Sensor and Intake Air Temp. Sensor.

NO luck. No spark, it fired a couple times then quit.

Moving on to my original thought of replacing the ignition coil.

 

[jakestolar]

Toss me a few bucks and I will ship you one off an 05

 

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

Sorry Jake, I should have checked back sooner, but i got a new one off ebay for $32 +shipping... BUt thanks for the offer!

 

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

UPDATE:
I have replaced the Ignition Coil, plugs and wires, as well as the IAT and Engine Temp Sensors. The bike it still not right. Still back firing, and dying, not starting, and when it does it runs fine until I twist the throttle. Could this just be a weak battery that isnt putting out under loads? I've got it on the charger, but i let it sit over night on 2amp trickle, and it wasnt ready this morning. Maybe its shot? BUT my question is can that be the probelem?

 

[Tork]

Could this just be a weak battery that isnt putting out under loads?

In your original post you said your battery is fine because you load tested it. A true load test would answer this for you. Did you bring you battery somewhere and actually have it bench checked?

 

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

Its not the battery. The bike started, idled and died shortly there after. Then it would start just fine, and die. I'm chasing a fuel problem now.

 

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

I found the problem today! I was so focused on the ignition and grounds, I never looked at the cam position sensor. I was reading the service manual, and i thought i'd look... heres what i found. SO simple, it hurts.

 

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

needless to say, alittle electrical tape and an exacto knife, problem solved.

 

[jakestolar]

[up]

 

[Sir Tragen]

So, I am looking to replace my ignition coil, but both of the Harley dealerships here do not have any in stock, nor do they seem all that keen on getting any.

Are our coils anything like a standard sportster coil, or should I be looking elsewhere?

Thoughts and opinions?

 

[Dellinger]

https://shop.newcastlehd.com/part/y030002a8
Coil for a 06 XB12
http://www.surdyke.com/AdvSearch.asp